Manga Review: Inu x Boku SS, Volume 5, by Cocoa Fujiwara

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Yen Press

Release Date: October 28, 2014

Volumes: 11

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. Powells. RightStuf.

Volume: 1. 4. 6.

Goodreads Synopsis:

In search of independence and solitude, the sharp-tongued Ririchiyo Shirakiin moves to the Maison de Ayakashi, an apartment building with its own Secret Service. Ririchiyo is eager to be alone, but upon her arrival, she is greeted by Soushi, an SS agent who seems...familiar somehow. Familiar and yet...not quite the same. Troubled by recurring dreams of a different Soushi-a man who loved her...and suffered for her-Ririchiyo chooses to accept her new circumstances and embrace the Soushi who now stands at her side...

Review:

This is not a book to read in public. I’m either grinning or wanting to cry, I’m not even kidding. God, the way this series is breaking my heart is just horrible.

Also, why wasn’t any of this is in the anime?! Seriously.

So after the last volume left us with a horrifying conclusion, we’re sent back to the beginning of the series. And everything is just a little bit off. And Ririchiyo doesn’t know why, and no one will tell her.

Miketsukami is scaring me a little, but mostly just upsetting me hugely. We don’t know what he knows, but he’s giving these weird looks when Ririchiyo isn’t around. He's still very sweet with Ririchiyo and I love him, but he's upsetting me. Not to mention that Watanuki and Roromiya are practically nonexistent in this volume. On the other hand, there is a new character and more of Kagerou, although it's debatable whether that is good or not.

Don’t get me wrong, I am still in love with this series. And I am hugely impressed by this twist that Fujiwara threw in, because I’ve never seen it happen before, and I never would have guessed this in a million years. But I’m also very upset about it, and it is breaking my heart.

And I am still on my toes waiting for the next volume.

Manga Review: Inu x Boku SS, Volume 4, by Cocoa Fujiwara

Rating (Out of 5): ~4-4.5

Publisher: Yen Press

Release Date: July 22, 2014

Volumes: 11

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. Powells. RightStuf.

Volume: 1. 3. 5.

Goodreads Synopsis:

The elite and beautiful Ririchiyo Shirakiin has a bad habit--she can't help but lash out at people with her vicious tongue, all while hiding behind a mask of haughty cool. This attitude has a lot to do with people minding her business because of the Shirakiin family name, but it troubles Ririchiyo to no end. In search of independence and solitude, she moves to the Maison de Ayakashi, an apartment building full of wealthy tenants and with its own Secret Service. Ririchiyo is eager to be alone, but upon her arrival, she is greeted by Soushi, an SS agent arranged for her by her parents. Ririchiyo tries to turn Soushi away, but Soushi's dogged devotion to his new mistress will not be deterred. The threat against the residents of the Maison de Ayakashi are not to be taken lightly, after all. And despite his puppy-like demeanor, Soushi is not to be trifled with either...

Review:

I don’t even know what to say about this volume. I want to cry and rage and throw the book at the wall and re-read to try to understand all at the same time. I just don’t understand what happened or why it happened or what’s going to happen next.

I’m going to try very hard to not spoil anything, but I don’t know how to talk about it without… talking about it.

So it started out pretty good. There was some focus on Nobara and her relationship with Sorinozuka, which was nice. There were some humorous comics, which is always nice. The comedic element of this series is just gold, perfectly done, and truly hilarious.

Ririchiyo and Soushi went to her home, and we got to see some more of their relationship, and ohmygod they are so cute. Then something happened with Roromiya. Which just expanded into something worse. And then exploded into the worst thing ever and I don’t know how to handle it. And then slowed into something that purely has me confused.

I don’t understand. That’s all I can say at this point. I don’t understand what’s going to happen next, or how anything can be done about what happened. I actually want to cry, because my heart is breaking over what happened. But also my head is exploding and I don't know how to handle it.

So I don’t want to wait for the next volume. I want it right this instant, because I need to know what happens. Which means that the wait till it's release in October is going to be just horrible.

Sidenote: I love the cover on this volume. I'm not sure why it stands out so much more than the others to me, I'm not even sure if it's Roromiya, but I just think it's gorgeous.